Hotel in Dubai to house tropical rainforest, indoor beach

The USD 2 billion (Dirhams 5.4 billion) Rosemont Hotel will not just be a major attraction but a technical breakthrough, "a next generation hotel of the future", architects told 7DAYS newspaper.PTI | August 17, 2016, 12:30 IST

DUBAI: A first-of-its-kind USD 2 billion hotel being built in Dubai will house a tropical rainforest, roaming mechanical dinosaurs, robot hosts and an indoor beach.

The USD 2 billion (Dirhams 5.4 billion) Rosemont Hotel will not just be a major attraction but a technical breakthrough, "a next generation hotel of the future", architects told 7DAYS newspaper.

Its twin skyscraper towers will have a lush, green rainforest sanctuary, roaming mechanical dinosaurs, robot hosts, artificial rains and an edge-less pool suspended in the sky, according to the firm in charge of the project, ZAS Architects.

Construction of the project started in February and is expected to be completed in April 2018.

Guests will walk through the lobby into a thick canopy of indigenous trees and shrubs, imported from the amazon, D J Armin, Managing Partner at the firm, said.

"It will have canopies of trees and shrubs throughout, so you will barely see the sky or the sun, although you'll have a ray of the sun coming in from the sky," he said.

Cooling mists will keep guests refreshed and shaded from the searing sun in the 75,000 sq ft, open-air jungle, located in Barsha Heights.

"We will have artificial rains there, mist coming out of the trees to cool down the air, which is collected from recycled water from the towers," said Armin.

The rainforest concept aims to create an outdoor environment that can be used all year round, along with a 40,000 sq ft indoor beach, he said.

"That's the whole idea during the summer, to create an environment which is at least five degrees cooler than outdoors, that people can use during the hot summers here," said Armin.

"It will have a rainforest cafe, seating area, trails, lazy stream, and a splash pool for the kids," Armin said.

All manner of dinosaurs such as the ferocious tyrannosaurus rex will roam the rainforest, with the possibility of offering kids the chance of a ride, he added.

As guests walk into the lobby they will be greeted by a robot host while their luggage is spirited away by a robotic arm, he said.